BILL NUMBER: AJR 57	CHAPTERED  09/05/00

	RESOLUTION CHAPTER   128
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE   SEPTEMBER 5, 2000
	ADOPTED IN SENATE   AUGUST 25, 2000
	ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY   MAY 18, 2000
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   MAY 16, 2000

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Longville

                        APRIL 4, 2000

   Assembly Joint Resolution No. 57--Relative to high-level
radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AJR 57, Longville.  High-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear
fuel:  transportation.
   This measure would memorialize the President and the Congress to
take appropriate action necessary to direct the United States
Department of Energy not to transport shipments of high-level
radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel from other states through
California to the proposed Yucca Mountain repository and, with regard
to high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel originating
in the state, to create appropriate procedures to minimize the risk
of an accident and to provide emergency response assistance to local
communities.




   WHEREAS, The United States Department of Energy is implementing a
plan to locate a high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel
disposal facility at Yucca Mountain in the extreme western portion of
Nevada, which borders on San Bernardino County; and
   WHEREAS, The proposed site will require the transporting of
significant amounts of high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear
fuel through San Bernardino County; and
   WHEREAS, It is not possible to get to the proposed Yucca Mountain
site from most California waste generating sites without transporting
high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel through some of
the most populated portions of San Bernardino County; and
   WHEREAS, San Bernardino County has many hundreds of miles of
interstate and other highways across its 20,000 square miles; and
   WHEREAS, The terrain of San Bernardino County is subject to a
variety of environmental conditions, such as earthquakes, wildfires,
snow and ice on the roads in the winter, high winds through the
mountain passes, and extremely high ambient temperatures during the
summer, all of which could severely compromise the safety and
integrity of the transportation plan for the radioactive waste; and
   WHEREAS, Radioactive waste is controlled and supervised at current
storage locations; and
   WHEREAS, High-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel is
most vulnerable for accident or sabotage once it has been loaded on a
truck or train for transit; and
   WHEREAS, The types of high-level radioactive wastes and spent
nuclear fuel proposed to be transported through the county are among
the most dangerous substances known to mankind; and
   WHEREAS, The result of even one accident could have enormous and
grave consequences upon significant portions of the county; and
   WHEREAS, Current environmental impact studies do not address the
risks and possible consequences associated with hauling high-level
radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel on public highways through
populated areas; and
   WHEREAS, San Bernardino County is home to a large number of small
cities which do not have the staff, equipment, or other resources
necessary to deal with the occurrence of a catastrophic accident
during the transportation of high-level radioactive waste and spent
nuclear fuel; and
   WHEREAS, The federal government cannot guarantee a zero-tolerance
policy against the risk of accident in the transportation of
high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel ; now, therefore,
be it
   Resolved by the Assembly and Senate of the State of California,
jointly, That the Legislature of the State of California respectfully
memorializes the President and the Congress of the United States to
take appropriate action, as necessary, to ensure the safety of the
citizens and the integrity of the environment of California and San
Bernardino County by directing the United States Department of Energy
not to transport shipments of high-level radioactive waste and spent
nuclear fuel from other states through California to the proposed
Yucca Mountain repository; and be it further
   Resolved, That, for high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear
fuel originating in California, should it become necessary to
relocate the waste from current storage facilities, the United States
Department of Energy should be directed to create appropriate
procedures so as to minimize the risk of an accident, including
avoiding transportation through populated areas, and to provide
assistance to local communities by providing the resources and
training to respond to a catastrophic emergency in these communities;
and be it further
   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United
States, to the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives,
to each Senator and Representative from California in the Congress
of the United States, and to the Secretary of the United States
Department of Energy.
